Three first half goals for Sporting Club Thamesmead against Staplehurst Monarchs all but guaranteed them Southern Counties East Football League Division One safety.
Although third from bottom Lewisham Borough can still overtake them, Lydd Town are one place higher but can only draw level with the Acre and would have to overturn a forty goal difference deficit.
Play-off hopes for Staplehurst had already gone and, in the first half they performed as though they had nothing to play for and could easily have been five down at the break.
However, manager Ian Dooker made two changes for the second period, and may well have had some stern words in the changing room. That appeared to have an effect as they were far more competitive when they came back out.
Owen Jeavons diverted a Lewis Cann cross towards goal that Staplehurst custodian Finley Lumpkin saved easily in a cagey opening period. The visitors first effort came shortly afterwards when Tagan Kray spotted Michael Crabbe off his line and tried his luck from the centre circle but he was well off target.
Midway through the first half, the Acre went ahead. Although Henry Awokere was fouled, the referee did not stop play. It broke for George Dennis who slid Jeavons through and he shot across Lumpkin and inside the far post.
Four minutes later, Thamesmead went two up. Henry Phillips delivered a free kick and Patrick Geddis rose to head home.
Joseph Ikuesan was then sent clear and as he lobbed Lumpkin, he was flattened by the goalkeeper and referee Jamie Gray awarded a penalty. Dennis struck it firmly but Lumpkin went the right way and parried it before catching it as it came back down.
However, the hosts didn’t have to wait long before adding a third. Phillips sent Jeavons through and he held off his man before slotting it home coolly.
Phillips then delivered a corner and Chris-Emmanuel Loko lost his man only to power his header over. Crabbe was tested for the first time just before half time when saving from Morgan Davidge at the near post.
Davidge had the first effort of the second period with a shot that was straight at Crabbe before Kieran Pallet rushed his attempt wide from twenty yards. Crabbe saved a Davidge clipped volley easily and was again in action when beating out a Manny Cuttress drive.
Cuttress fought hard to create another chance for Davidge but he could only fire into the side netting. It wasn’t all one way, though, and Awokere’s well hit shot was pushed over the bar by Lumpkin.
Another excellent save by Crabbe denied Pallet after he had been sent through by Davidge then a good Monarchs corner routine wasn’t exploited when James Delaney’s short delivery found Beau Landau who lifted his head and fired over.
At the other end, Frankie Baughen did well to get down the left and pulled it back across goal and Lewis Cann arrived late but shot wide of the far post. Again, Phillips caused problems with corners. Loko headed one straight into the arms of Lumpkin, then Prince Ifeanyi headed down to Baughen who knocked it wide as he fell.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Crabbe again had to work to maintain his clean sheet. First he made an excellent save with his feet to thwart Donnell Sama who had been threaded through. Then he made one more stop when keeping out Bradley Webb’s near post effort.
Soon after, the referee blew his whistle to end a pulsating battle with the Acre safe from the drop.
SC Thamesmead: Crabbe; Cann, Loko, Palfrey, Cravid (Carlson 46); Geddis, Phillips; Jeavons (Baughen 73), Dennis (Osbourne 58), Awokere (Ifeanyi 84); Ikuesan (Amoah 66).
Subs not used: None.
Goalscorers: Jeavons (23), (34), Geddis (27).
Yellow cards: Awokere (51 simulation), Osbourne (82 foul), Phillips (90+1 simulation), Crabbe (90+3 delay of restart).
Staplehurst Monarchs: Lumpkin; Green, Sharp (Delaney 81), Wheeler, Harris; Kray; Davidge (Sama 79), Cuttress, Lee (Webb 46); Ogazi (Pallet 46), Karkari (Landau 63).
Subs not used: None.
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: None
Referee: Jamie Gray
Assistant Referees: Ronald Albert and Adam Back
Attendance: 80